Rundgren also explained that "Bang the Drum all Day" started out as contract fulfillment, he had one last record to do for his label ("The Ever-Popular Tortured Artist Effect"), but he appears to feel the song was valid, not just a quick buck.
And cleared up some of the shouting that went on over his production of XTC's"Skylarking" which is roughly 2/3rds XTC, 1/3rd Rundgren in its final form (and one of the greatest albums ever made IMO). (Andy Partridge got cold feet over "Dear God" and demanded it off the album; it became a B-side hit and saved the band and had to go back on!...)
And explained that the song "The Waiting Game" (on "Nearly Human") came to him fully formed, in a dream, where he believed he was working with Manhattan Transfer. (
If you've heard the song, it's Manhattan Transferesque with wild vocal layers)